The ball is rolling at Lahinch Golf Club as the build for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – a Rolex Series event – officially gets underway with 50 days to go until the prestigious tournament takes place on the County Clare links for the first time from July 3-7.
The transformation will enable the famous golf club to cater for the large number of fans expected to attend the tournament this July, including the construction of the 18th grandstand and hospitality suites, which offer fans unprecedented views of some of the best golfers in the world.
The Championship Village will host a variety of programmes, including live performances from Hermitage Green and Chasing Abbey at the Lahinch Live Stage over the weekend, plus regional food and drink on offer at a number of outlets. The Village itself will run 125 metres in length, and there will be 1.8km worth of fencing and 2.2km worth of barriers around the course.
The TV and Broadcast compound, totalling 2,500 square metres, will also be on site to deliver the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to over 490 million homes in more than 150 countries.
Adding to that will be 550 volunteers from 15 golf clubs from the surrounding counties, plus 7,200 golf balls will be required on the practice range during the week itself.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which for the first time will be played over the spectacular Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club from July 3-7, is hosted by The 2014 Ryder Cup winning Captain Paul McGinley, with tickets still available .
Among those who have already confirmed their participation for the 2019 edition of the historic event are 2017 Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, Irish heroes Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, former World Number One Lee Westwood and 2016 Masters Tournament winner Danny Willett.
Simon Alliss, Championship Director of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Championship, said: “The countdown is most certainly on to this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch as we are just seven weeks away now. As well as the golf, we also have great music coming to the town. Lahinch will bring a festival atmosphere this July and it most certainly will be the place to be.”
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open takes place at Lahinch Golf Club from July 3-7, 2019.